Daedalus's Story

I think we'll begin a new section of Icarus, rather than a new dance. I have been contemplating starting a new project with Mary and Alex to give Amanda a little break during the show. Yet, we don't really have time to do more than start something this season. So I think we'll just work on a new section of Icarus (sorry, Amanda).

I realize now that we need an ending section, one that takes place while Amanda, dead Icarus, rolls in the waves. I am considering what may happen. I like the idea of splitting the stage into right and left halves. Amanda could be on one half, the rest of us on the other. It may work to have me, as Daedalus, fly toward Amanda, only to be repulsed by Alex and Mary.

Daedalus's relationship with Icarus intrigues me. Daedalus must feel like a failure as a dad. Everything he does seems to cause harm. His jealousy of another inventor, Talus, and violence toward him, gets Daedalus and his family exiled to Crete. Daedalus creates this marvellous trap, the labyrinth, for the minotaur, only to get trapped there with Icarus after helping Theseus kill the minotaur. Then, when Daedalus devises a miracle to get free, makeshift wings! he watches his son fall to his watery death. Daedalus's frustration must be incredible!

As a father, I identify with this frustration. I often question whether the things I do for Maya are good enough. I wonder what experiences I might arrange for her if I only made more money. I worry that my attraction to homeschooling will end up isolating her socially. I worry that our small house and yard are not big enough for her capacity to explore. I worry that I get angry too much, over trivial things like messes. Sometimes it seems like nothing I do is good enough for her, even though it is my best. I think, sometimes, that Icarus's story is really Daedalus's story, the story of a father who gets punished every time he puts his hands to a project.

Let me know what you think. We will premiere Icarus at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage on Wednesday March 23, 2011 at 6pm, a free show. We will then open Icarus to new dancers who participate in a repertory class at Dance Place in Northeast DC on Wednesday evenings starting May 4, 2011 from 7:45pm to 9:30. This class is open to all, so please join us. We will present the full cast of Icarus at Dance Place on Saturday July 9, 2011 at 8pm and Sunday July 10 at 7pm in The Washington DC/Philadelphia Exchange. This is our second performance with Philadelphia dance company Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Co, a followup to our May 2010 performance in Philly.